Mr. Petty said the consultant will review résumés and qualifications over the next several days. The consultant will compile a list of qualified applicants and meet individually with councilors next week. Councilors will be asked to rank the applicants at that time, Mr. Petty said.

Background checks will then be conducted on the top 6 to 10 candidates, who will be interviewed in executive sessions in August by the council's Municipal Operations Committee.

The committee will recommend three candidates for consideration by the full City Council. Interviews with the finalists will be done in early September, Mr. Petty said. The new city manager would be expected to take over as the city's chief executive on Oct. 6.

City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. is working on a nine-month contract that runs through Oct. 3. He intends to honor his original commitment to return to the College of the Holy Cross once his contract expires.

Mr. Petty said Mr. Augustus told him that he did not apply for the position.

Mr. Augustus was hired by the previous City Council to succeed Michael V. O'Brien, who stepped down to take a job in the private sector.